Over 500 BYU-Hawaii alumni, former faculty and staff, supporters and friends gathered on March 22 in Salt Lake City for a historic meeting in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.
The group heard several members of the President's Leadership Council, who are major financial supporters of BYU-Hawaii, speak of the need for all to contribute to the University.
Keith and Carol Jenkins, who sponsor a matching fund which leverages alumni donations by four-to-one and current student donations by nine-to-one, encouraged the alumni to contribute to BYU-Hawaii.
Sister Jenkins, who pointed out that she and her husband had been inspired by the "gift of charity, the harmony of love or what's referred to as the aloha spirit," she explained. "Many have asked us why we're involved with BYU-Hawaii. We're not alumni and we have no children there. The Spirit directed us to BYU-Hawaii and confirmed in our hearts that this is where He wanted our resources used."
Brother Jenkins encouraged the congregation to "ask ourselves if there is more we can do to accelerate the Laie prophecies. I testify the Lord wants us to move faster and touch more hearts."
Dick Clissold, whose father Edward L. Clissold played key leadership roles in Laie and Hawaii for 50 years starting in 1921, shared his father's vision of the Polynesian Cultural Center, and added that the senior Clissold's longtime devotion to the Church and the islands leaves him with "the urge to serve. I want to give back,"? he said.
BYU-Hawaii President Eric Shumway, who said the special Utah alumni meeting "far exceeded my expectations," spoke of the University's golden jubilee celebration in 2005.
"I have witnessed a number of celebrations in Laie," he said, mentioning the University's 25th anniversary and the more recent launching of the Iosepa sailing canoe, "but our 50th anniversary will be a grand celebration. It won't be just the celebration, but the people who come that make it special.
President Shumway said,"2005 is going to be full of wonderful activities and celebrations."? He noted that Oct. 16-23, 2005, will be a focal period of the golden jubilee and a particularly good time to revisit Laie.
He then previewed clips from a new video on the combined BYU-Hawaii choirs and the Shaka Steel Band being shown on BYUTV, and also several clips from a new video in production by the LDS Foundation, which oversees fundraising for both BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center. The new video is designed to encourage alumni and others to contribute to BYU-Hawaii.
President Shumway also offered a "stewardship report" of the University, acknowledging the early students, first faculty and family members in attendance at the meeting.
"We are now a vibrant, highly respected campus," he said. "We graduate nearly one-fourth of our student body every year."
Focusing his remarks on fundraising, President Shumway related the story of how BYU-Hawaii graduate Mosese Naeata from Tonga, who was serving as mission president in Papua-New Guinea with his wife, Akanesi, asked him to make it possible for students from there to attend BYU-Hawaii.
"Four years ago we had no students from Papua-New Guinea," President Shumway said. A generous donor has since made it possible for a growing number to enroll on scholarships.
Going forward, President Shumway explained BYU-Hawaii is "organizing our fundraising objectives around five major goals":
* Intensify efforts to fulfill the University's prophetic mission to Asia and the Pacific Islands, including $19 million to cover the costs of 150 new scholarships.
* Strengthen the curriculum, including possible master's degrees in business administration and TESOL.
* More fully integrate the Polynesian Cultural Center work experience and BYU-Hawaii mentored learning.
* Increase the number of international students returning to their homelands.
* Enhance BYU-Hawaii's role as a model of harmony amidst cultural diversity.
Though the meeting was held in the historic Assembly Hall, the aloha spirit was reflected in the leis brought from Hawaii as well as musical performances by a Tongan alumni choir directed by 1981 alumnus Sione Ika; Divine Heritage, another island group directed by Gina Manuleleua; and "Uncle" Joe Ah Quin who sang Laie Kuu Aina Aloha, Behold Laie, and at the end of the two-hour meeting led everyone in Hawaii Aloha.
Many of the alumni and friends also gathered before the meeting at a reception in a hotel across the street from Temple Square.